Well good morning, good afternoon and good evening, wherever you are in the world, hello and welcome to the Sunday 26th August edition of EV News Daily. It’s Martyn Lee here with the news you need to know about electric cars and the move towards sustainable transport.

Thank you to MYEV.com for helping make this show, they’ve built the first marketplace specifically for Electric Vehicles. It’s a totally free marketplace that simplifies the buying and selling process, and help you learn about EVs along the way too.

ELON MUSK FINDS REVERSE GEAR ON PRIVATISATION PLAN

If you thought it had been a breathless couple of weeks for Tesla news, brace yourself, here we go again! So just to recap: “Am considering taking Tesla private at $420. Funding secured” — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 7, 2018

Then late on Friday night a new blog post appeared on Tesla.com with a new statement from Elon.

“Given the feedback I’ve received, it’s apparent that most of Tesla’s existing shareholders believe we are better off as a public company.. I knew the process of going private would be challenging, but it’s clear that it would be even more time-consuming and distracting than initially anticipated. This is a problem because we absolutely must stay focused on ramping Model 3 and becoming profitable. We will not achieve our mission of advancing sustainable energy unless we are also financially sustainable.”

This was a huge distraction from what matter, the 6,000 Model 3’s and 2,000 Model S/X coming out of Freemont. Plus the vehicles coming soon. I get how going private shuts up the shorts, the critics, the doubters. As a non-investor I have no skin in the game either way, part of me would like to have seen them close the doors and get on with business. But also it was too much speculation and long-term turmoil which would have been self-inflicted. The best result is massive success in Q3 and Q4, profitability, scaring the living hell out of all the other car makers so they not only make great EVs but also make them quickly.

And talking about going quickly, let’s move on to the new roadster. Jay Leno’s Garage was on US TV and shortly after ripped into YouTube for the rest of us to see. The segment is mostly about the Tesla story, the original roadster which Jay Leno bought and how it came to the Model 3. Nothing ground-breaking for any EV fans. However then the Tesla Chief Designer Franz gives him a ride in the new roadster.

AUDI PB 18 E-TRON GOES FROM 0 TO 60 IN 2 SECONDS

“The Audi PB 18 e-tron debuted late Thursday with a splash, aiming for the same rarified air as ultra-luxury supercars with wickedly powerful engines and sleek designs.” says CNBC.com: “As a concept car, the vehicle uses a powerful battery and three electric motors to go 0 to 100 kilometers per hour (62.1 miles per hour) in just over 2 seconds. With a full charge, its battery would be capable of enabling 310 miles of distance. And it can theoretically be fully charged with an 800-volt connection in 15 minutes. This car’s interior is designed to empower track driving. Frankly, it’s made to go obscenely fast. Audi designed a cockpit paired with a “monocoque shell that can be slid laterally,” so that the driver can sit in the center of the vehicle for optimal vision and control.”

“Following an overwhelmingly positive reaction to the original concept for ‘the most beautiful electric car in the world’, Jaguar Classic has confirmed it will offer all-electric E-types for sale. An EV conversion service for existing E-type owners will also be offered. To preserve the authenticity of the base vehicle, the EV conversion will be fully reversible. Jaguar Classic is targeting a range in excess of 170 miles for all-electric E-types, helped by the car’s low kerb weight and sleek aerodynamics. The concept is powered by a 40kWh battery, which can be recharged in six to seven hours, depending on power source.

An electric powertrain with single-speed reduction gear has been specially designed for the E-type, utilising many Jaguar I-PACE components. Its lithium-ion battery pack has the same dimensions, and similar weight, to the standard E-type’s six-cylinder petrol XK engine and is in the same location. The electric motor lies just behind the battery pack, in place of the E-type’s gearbox. A new propshaft sends power to a carry-over differential and final drive.

Using an electric powertrain with similar weight and dimensions to the outgoing petrol engine and transmission means the car’s structure, including suspension and brakes, has not changed, simplifying the conversion and keeping the driving experience in line with the original vehicle. It drives, handles, rides and brakes like an original E-type with front-rear weight distribution unchanged.

Jaguar has announced that the I-Pace crossover has set the Laguna Seca lap record for production electric vehicles. With racing driver Randy Pobst behind the wheel, the I-Pace HSE completed a lap in 1 minute and 48.18 seconds.” reports Autoblog: “Jaguar was adamant to stress that the record-setting vehicle was bone stock with “no modifications whatsoever.” As Jalopnik reports, a bit of a dispute arose about the lap time, as a Tesla Model S P100D is said to have completed a lap in 1 minute, 47.62 seconds. However, the Tesla in question had received brake upgrades, unlike the factory specification Jaguar.”

Meet the Baojun E200, a two seater city EV coming to China next month.

“The Baojun E200 is powered by a single electric motor located over the front axle. Output is 39 hp. Top speed is 100 km/h. Range (NEDC) is 210 kilometers.” according to CarNewsChina: “There is a small screen in front of the driver, and another screen in the middle. Bojun is an entry level brand under the SAIC-GM-Wuling joint venture, in which General Motors has a 43% stake. The other partners are SAIC (aka Shanghai Auto) and Wuling Automotive. Their first electric baby was the Baojun E100, which launched last year.

And finally some great news for how the dieselgate money is being spent in the USA with Electrify America now up to 10 ultra-fast charging stations open. In total there will be 2,000 of them at almost 500 locations. And they cater for both 350kW CCS Combo charging plus 50kW CHAdeMO plugs, but which can be upgraded over time with a software update for faster speeds.

Whilst it’s a 10 year plan, the first $190m has to be spent by the end of July 2019 for highway charging. The plan is for 950 chargers to be working by then, 300 highway chargers and 650 community stations.

Onto the bit where you take over the podcast with our Question Of The Week, set each week by the team at myev.com – and we have a new question for you in a moment.

Do you really need all that electric range? How much range is enough range? What’s your ideal range? And how does that tie into battery charging speed or charging locations?

Mark Garnett

Ideally we would split this between EV owners and Non-owners because I think you would get very different results because (non EV) people I speak to still want 300 or more where as we all know real world usage is a lot less. My current EV (BClass electric drive) only does 75-95 in normal use. Coldest day slightly less, hyper miling might get to 110. We are are 2 car family so while the EV does the most miles, esp due to no rapid charging we use the other car (a stinky diesel) for long trips. The perfect solution would be a daily range of say 100 but an option to boost to 200-300 with proper rapid charge capability for those occasional long trips. Eg slide in an extra 2/3rd battery!

Aaron Bounds

I have been driving a 24 kwh 2015 Nissan Leaf for nearly a year now, and have had exactly zero range constraint problems. I commute 10 or 20 miles to work each day, one way (different locations) and run errands for four small children – about 200 miles/week on average. I think the car is rated for 107 miles or something like that, but I feel like the actual real world range is closer to about 80 miles, and it works, just barely sometimes, but it does.

damien davis

I have about 70-75 miles on my i3 but I do have the ReX version, and after about putting 12000 miles on it I’d say 5% are from gas. But if I want to visit my mom in Louisiana (I live in Texas) I have to take our Escape. If I had the 94ah bmw I probably wouldn’t need the Rex but I still wouldn’t be able to visit my mom.

With a Tesla Model 3, I have 310 miles range but would work with as little as 220 miles. I just could not wait for the standard range. My longest monthly trip is 180 miles and there are super chargers at the 80 and 160 mile mark. I’m concidering a 1800 mile trip and only have one segment over 150 miles between chargers. I’ll need to use a standard dryer plug at the destination.

Jerry A

Martyn, I think that 250 miles (400KM) is the desirable amount of distance for a EV

Eduard Pertíñez

450 km of range should be enough. Not less. Reasons: a) 450 km of range can result in around 250 km if you go fast on motorways. b) Batteries degradation can make the range to be 350 km in 10 years, still plenty. c) Even when once in a while you’ll have to recharge it during a road trip, with 450km of range it will be only once or twice a year. More than acceptable. d) 450km of range let you charge the batteries to 80% and have lots of range, so you don’t force the batteries for everyday use.

Mark Tiller

I am probably over doing the mileage, but say 200

Philip Allen

Range: I am running 2 ICE cars at the moment but plan to change to EV(s) soon. I may have a shorter range smaller car for local trips that will do most of my miles and trips ( range approx 100 – 120 miles ) and then keep the second ICE car for longer special trips or sell both cars and get a longer range more expensive car with a range of 225+ miles. Both options still possible

Robert Nickson

I have a Smart ForFour Electric. Range 100 miles is ok for me. With long distance I am worried about finding a place to change. I wanted to go to silver stone this year, but had range anxiety

The Limousine Line – Sydney

On the the question “how much range do you really need”, for me it’s as much as possible. Operating my Model X as a Chauffeured vehicle, range is very important. I’ve covered over 100,000kms in under 16 months, and it’s been a phenomenal success! Thank you Tesla for saving my business – go away Audi whose horrible Q7 nearly sent me broke!

Alan Wardrop

I live in the Blue Mountains near Sydney Australia. I need 300 km range just to visit family. 600 km range at 110 km/hr would allow driving to Brisbane and Melbourne with only one recharge (a bit over 900 km to either of these) allowing for a choice of stops and without stress about making the distance.

geniegogo

on the question of range, I’d like it if you’d put a cost equivalency for extending the range for example if it costs an extra $5,000 for each additional 100 mile range, would you choose 100 mile base range, or (+$5,000) for 200 mile range or (+$10,000) for 300 miles? If such is the case then I’d like to cheat and say I want close to 150 mile range (+$2,500). Google says Tesla battery may be $190 per kWh so these prices may be reasonable. (Well maybe I’d go for the 200 after all.)

gary wyatt-williams

Range is dependant on location, here in the uk, travveling distances are way shorter, my weekly commute could be done on one overnight charge in my 40kw leaf, two or three overnight charges on a busy week and a fast charge for holidays 5 or 6 times a year..my regret at not waiting for the 60kw disappeared fast . It would have been a lot of extra expense and weight for very little gain.. give us a choice of battery size at purchase but educate us to the reality of the actual milage we are likely to travel married to the charge we can do each night…

Neil

My commute is 100 miles a day, parents are 140 miles in the other direction. Ideal range would be 300 miles, or 200 miles if there is an easy to use fast charger en-route

robert Ralston

I think probably 250 miles so 70~80kwh battery would like the type of battery lithion or solid state probably solid state hopefully would have less problem with heat and cold and charging speeds of 200kw as minimum. As a second thought what about two batteries say 40kw solid state use one, charge one and 200kw a 40kw for 175miles,so maybe 3hrs driving, under 10mins 40kw solid state would be smaller and lighter that a lithion battery.

Beardy McBeardface

For me personally I do, on average, no more than 100miles/week. I occasionally go a bit further visiting the parents. Luckily Mrs McBeardfaces parents only live a few miles from mine. There and back is 160miles. So 200 miles would be more than enough. Even if I decided to go further afield it would be ok. I’m a strong believer in that regular stops and breaks lead to safer roads due to less fatigue.

COMMUNITY

Keep your comments coming in for this week’s Question of the Week…

How much do you spend on charging your EV at home? Has it made a large difference to you household bills?

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